ackerman



May 7, 1963 D. M. ACKERMAN LIQUID DISPENSER AND APPLICATOR OriginalFiled Feb. 23. 1954 flame/la M lake/ma IN V EN TOR.

Attorney United States Patent Ofifice Re. 25,380 Reissued May 7, 1963 25380 LIQUID DISPENSEfi AND APPLICATOR Dolletta M. Ackerman, Los Angeles,Calif., assignor to Pharma-Craft Corporation, Cranhury, N.J., a corpora-Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent butforms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italicsindicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates generally to dispensing devices, and is directedparticularly to a dispensing and applicator device designed primarilyfor a liquid or semi-liquid, and is especially useful for toiletpreparations.

One object of the present invention is to provide in a liquid dispenseremploying a rotatable ball applicator, an improved seating means forsuch applicator, which is designed to be fitted into a supportingstructure located within the mouth or neck of a receptacle for theliquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a liquid dispenserhaving a rotatable ball applicator, improved means for establishing afluid tight engagement between the liquid applicator ball and anassociated seat engaged thereby, wherein the ball is resiliently oryieldingly held against the seat, when the cover or cap for thereceptacle is placed thereon, so as to effectively prevent leakage ofthe closed receptacle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved liquidapplicator device which is designed to be applied to or secured in themouth or neck portion of a standard bottle or receptacle in which aliquid or toilet preparation is marketed, so that any bottle of liquidor toilet preparation can be converted into a dispenser bottle.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a liquid applicatordevice which is embodied in a cap or cover which may be rcmovablyattached to the neck portion of a standard bottle or receptacle, and asso attached will form a dispenser and applicator For the liquidcontained therein, it being possible to utilize the cap for differentbottles by merely transferring it from one bottle to another.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the followingpart of the specification, wherein detailed description is for thepurpose of fully disclosing several embodiments of the invention withoutplacing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrativepurposes only:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinalsection of a receptacle for a liquid, constructed in accordance with thepresent invention and showing my improved ball seat and resilient ballsecuring means in the cap, and also the means by which the receptaclemay be closed after being filled;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the ball seat;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in longitudinal section and partlyin side elevation of the neck portion of a standard bottle in whichliquids and toilet preparations are sold, and showing a dispenserapplicator according to a modified form of the present invention appliedthereto;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail view showing the interconnection betweenparts of the arrangement shown in FIG. 3, the ball being removed, and asection being taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating another embodiment of theinvention arranged to fit into the mouth or neck of a conventionalbottle or receptacle; and

FIG. 6 is another modified arrangement, similar to that shown in FIG. 5,but arranged as a bottle cap adapted to be applied to a conventionalbottle or receptacle.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the invention is shownin FIG. 1 as being embodied in a receptacle, as generally indicated bythe numeral 10, the receptacle having a body portion 11, in the bottomend of which is fitted and sealed a base member 12 which is providedwith a central filling opening 13. By inverting the receptacle, it maybe filled through this opening, after which the opening in closed bysuitable plug 14 of plastic, synthetic rubber or other suitable materialwhich will firmly hold its position or which may be readily cemented tothe adjacent material torming the base 12.

The top end of the body 11 is formed so as to provide a neck at this endof the receptacle through which the liquid may be dispensed. Internally,the neck portion is formed with an annular shoulder or flange 15 whichserves as a support for a ball seating member 16 which is formed with acylinder part 17 having a circumferentially extending flange 18 adaptedto rest upon the flange 15, when the lowermost end of the cylinder partis snugly fitted within the opening defined by the flange 15. Theengaged surfaces of the flanges 15 and 18 may be cemented or bonded in asuitable manner to hold the ball seating member in position and form afiuid tight joint. The upper end of the cylinder part 17 is positionedabove the flange l8 and at its top edge is shaped to form an annularseat 19 upon which an applicator ball 2 b is adapted to rest.

The receptacle 10 may be formed of any suitable hard material such as ahard plastic or the like, which may be molded and has the suitablecharacteristic of being impervious to water or other liquids which itmay be desired to place in the receptacle. By constructing the ballseating member 16 as a separate member, which may be supported in theneck of the receptacle in the path of flow of liquid therefrom, it isobviously possible to make the seating member of a material moresuitable for its purpose, and which may therefore be made of a plasticwhich is less hard than the receptacle material, and which may have aslight flexibility so as to better adapt it as a seating material.

For retaining the applicator hall in operative position, the ball isencircled by a retainer ring or annulus 21, which fits snugly into theupper end of the receptacle with its lowermost edge adapted to abut aninternal shoulder 22 which is formed by slightly increasing the internaldiameter of the receptacle at this end. The retainer ring is cemented orbonded to the adjacent surface of the receptacle material so as to forma sealed joint and secure the retainer ring in operative position.

The top edge of the retainer ring 21 is provided with an inturned lip 23having an internal diameter slightly less than that of the diameter ofthe ball 20. This lip lies above the center of the ball on the oppositeside from the seating member 16 and is arranged to permit limitedmovement of the ball between the lip and the seat 19 yet prevent theball from escaping from its mounted position.

By reason of the limited movement of the ball 26, as described above, itwill be apparent that when the receptacle is inverted and the ballapplied to and moved over a surface with moderate but not excessivepressure, liquid from the receptacle will form a film on the ball and becarried past the lip 23 by the ball rotation and thus dispensed on tothe surface.

The retainer ring 21 projects beyond the adjacent mouth or end of thereceptacle in order to receive a cap structure. as generally indicatedby the numeral 24, which will now be described in detail. The capstructure is in general cup-shaped, having a circular side portion orskirt 25 and a top wall 26. As shown, the skirt 25 is adapted toencircle the retaining ring 21 and seat upon the top edge of the bodyportion 11, as shown, when in closed position. Various means may beemployed for retaining the cap structure in a removably closed position.As illustrative of one way in which this may be accomplished, theretainer ring 21 may be provided on its outer surface with two or morespirally directed ribs 27 which are adapted for operative associationwith similarly arranged spirally directed ribs 28 adapted to slidablyengage beneath the ribs 27 upon turning movement of the cap structureand thus secure the cap in closed position in conventional manner.

The cap structure 24 has positioned within the upper part thereof a ringor gasket 29 of suitable resilient material such as synthetic rubber andthe like. This gasket is arranged to be pressed tightly upon theadjacent surface of the applicator ball 20, when the cap structure isaffixed in closing position. With the application of pressure to theball, the ball is firmly pressed downwardly against the seat 19 and thusprovides a sealed structure which will obviate leakage of the liquidfrom the receptacle.

As will be readily apparent, the ball seat and ball 20 cooperate to sealthe receptacle when the cap structure is in closed position. Thereceptacle may at such time be filled with the desired liquid throughthe opening 13 previously described, this opening thereafter beingclosed by means of the plug 14.

In FIG. 3 there is disclosed an applicator which may be provided as aunit structure designed to be applied to the neck portion 30 of anyconventional bottle for a liquid or toilet preparation. In thisarrangement, like elements have been indicated by the same numerals asutilized in the arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

In this case, however, the retainer ring 21 has been thickened so as toform in effect a washer of plastic or other suitable material which maybe inserted into the bottle mouth in the manner of a stopper. Thelowermost edge is formed with diametrically opposed internal notches orgrooves 31 which are adapted to respectively receive projections 3232 indiametric relation and in this case integrally formed with a dishedcradle 33 for supporting the applicator ball 20.

The cradle may likewise be made of any suitable material and may be ofplastic and is of perforate formation, being provided with a pluralityof openings 34 in its surface.

The projections 32 are constructed so as to have a press fit in theassociated groove 31, thus providing a simple arrangement for supportingthe applicator ball 20 in operative position.

In this construction, the perforated cradle support is of advantage inthat it more readily supports a film of the liquid in contact with theapplicator ball and facilitates the application of the liquid,especially where the liquid is of rather thick consistency as in thecase of certain types of toilet preparations.

As in the case of the arrangement disclosed in FIG. 1, a simplified capconstruction 24 is provided in this case, the cap being arranged forremovable connection with the bottle neck. Various connections may beutilized, but for purposes of illustration a screw connection is shownalthough a snap-on cap may be used if desired. In this case, the cap isprovided with a central seat groove 35 within which there is positioneda gasket 29 which has sealing engagement with the ball 20, when theassociated cap is in closing position with respect to the bottle neck.

In FIG. 5, there is disclosed an arrangement similar to that of FIG. 3,except that instead of utilizing the per forated cradle 33, thisembodiment uses a modified structure of ball seat member 16 as indicatedby numeral 16', in this case. The retainer ring 21" in this case isprovided on its lowermost edge with a circumferentially extending groove36 instead of the previously described notches 31. This groove isadapted to receive the flange 18 and support the ball seating member 16'in the same manner as previously described. The encircling flange J8rests on and is secured to the groove 36 which functions (is a portionof (H2 annular flange peripherally extending from the bottom of ring 21and contacting the neck portion 30. The cylinder part 17, in thisarrangement, extends upwardly only above the flange 18. A seat for theball is provided in the same manner as previously. In this arrangement,the bottle is sealed by the weight of the ball 20 against the seat 19,when not in use. A cap such as described in connection with FIG. 3 maylikewise be used in this arrangement or not, as desired.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is disclosed a construction which isquite similar to that of FIG. 5, except that in this form of theinvention, the applicator ball and associated ball seating member havebeen incorporated in a retainer ring 21', the retainer ring in this casebeing modified by providing an extended skirt 37 so as to form in thiscase a cap structure which is arranged for removable engagement with theneck of a conventional bottle. This may be by means of screw threads 38,or other conventional means such as a snap-on connection. With thisarrangement, the applicator and dispenser may be transferred from onebottle to another as desired. The construction in this case is simpleand yet eliiciently operates for the intended purpose.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do notwish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned,except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

Attention is directed to my Patent 2,719,997, filed July 11, 1952, whichissued October 1], 1955. This earlier parent was copending with myapplication Serial No. 411,688, filed February 23, 1954, which issued asPatent 2,807,817, the patent on which the subject reissue application isfiled. Both patents relate to roll-on, ball type, liquid dispensers andapplicators.

I claim:

1. A liquid dispenser, comprising: a receptacle having a cylindricalneck portion leading to a mouth; an annular flange within and on thewall of the neck portion below said mouth; a tubular cylindrical memberfitting in said flange and having an encircling flange resting on andsecured to the first flange, said member having its top end formed toprovide a ball seat; a ball resting on said seat; a ring structurefitting in said neck portion and encircling the ball, the ring having atop inside diameter less than the ball diameter and lying above thecenter of the ball to limit the movement of the ball away from its seat;and a cap overlying the ball and detachably engaged with said ring.

2. A liquid dispenser, comprising: a receptacle having a cylindricalneck portion leading to a month; an annular first flange within andintegral with the wall of the neck portion below said mouth; a separatetubular cylindrical member fitting in said first flange and having anencircling second flange integral with said tubular member overlyingsaid first flange and in interface contact therewith, said member havingits top end formed to provide a ball seat; a ball resting on said scat;a ring structure fitting in said neck portion and encircling the ball,the ring having a top inside diameter less than the ball diameter andlying above the center of the ball to limit the movement of the ballaway from its scat; and a cap overlying the ball and dctachnbly engagedwith said ring.

3. A liquid dispenser, comprising: a receptacle having a cylindricalneck portion leading to a month; a supply of a liquid lotion within saidreceptacle; an annular flange within and on the wall of the neck portionbelow said mouth; a tubular cylindrical member fitting in said flangeand having an encircling flange resting on and secured to the firstflange, said member having its top end formed to provide a ball seat andhaving a valve port adapted to permit a ball resting on said seat to bein direct contact with the supply of lotion within said receptacle; aball resting on said seat; a ring structure fitting in said neck portionand encircling the ball, the ring having a top inside diameter less thanthe ball diameter and lying above the center of the ball to limit themovement of the ball away from its seat; and a cap overlying the balland detachably engaged with said dispenser.

4. A liquid dispenser, comprising: a receptacle having a cylindricalneck portion leading to a mouth; a supply of a liquid lotion within saidreceptacle; an annular flange within and on the wall of the neck portionbelow said mouth; a plastic, tubular cylindrical member fitting in saidflange and having an encircling flange resting on and secured to thefirst flange, said member having its top end formed to provide aflexible, plastic ball seat, and having a valve port adapted to permit aball resting on said seat to be in direct contact with the supply oflotion within said receptacle; a ball resting on said seat; a ringstructure fitting in said neck portion and encircling the ball, the ringhaving a top inside diameter less than the ball diameter and lying abovethe center of the ball to limit the movement the ball away from itsseat; and a cap overlying the ball and pressing the ball against saidseat when the cap is detachably engaged with said dispenser.

5. A liquid dispenser, comprising: a receptacle having a cylindricalneck portion leading to a month; an annular flange within and on thewall of the neck portion below said mouth; a tubular cylindrical memberfitting in said flange and having an encircling flange resting on andsecared to the first flange, said member having its top end formed toprovide a flexible, plastic ball seat; a ball resting on said seat; aring structure fitting in said neck portion and encircling the ball, thering having a top inside diameter less than the ball diameter and lyingabove the center of the ball to limit the movement of the ball away fromits seat; and a cap overlying the ball and pressing the ball againstsaid seat when the cap is detachably engaged with said dispenser.

6. The liquid dispenser of claim 4 wherein the annular flange andencircling flange are separate elements that are in interface contactwith each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 600,299 Werner Mar. 8, 1893 1,129,449 Bussey Feb.23, 1915 1,977,414 Testa Oct. 16, 1934 2,026,211 Brennan Dec. 31, 19352,110,007 Tefit Mar. 1, 1938 2,113,695 Krannak Apr. 12, 1938 2,122,580Morris July 5, 1938 2,641,788 Sudbeaz June 16, 1953 2,663,891 HanryonDec. 29, 1953 2,700,784 DeBrock Feb. 1, 1955 2,719,997 Ackerman Oct. 11,1955 2,749,566 Thomas June 12, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 144,928 AustraliaFeb. 1, 1952 817,415 Germany Oct. 15, 1951 828,435 Germany June 17, 19521,009,193 France Mar. 5, 1952

